The strikes prompted outrage from Palestinian militants who said the Jewish state had opened "the gates of hell" and Egypt promptly announced it was recalling its ambassador over the Gaza City hit that also killed Jaabari's bodyguard.

It was swiftly followed by more than 20 air strikes.

"The occupation has opened the gates of hell on itself," said a statement from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, which vowed its militants would "continue the path of resistance".

Columns of smoke rise following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City. Hamas security officials say two Hamas training facilities were among the targets in the Wednesday afternoon bombings. Picture: Adel Hana/AP

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said the strike was tantamount to a "declaration of war".

Israel's Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency and the military confirmed the operation.

"During a joint operation of the General Security Service (Shin Bet) and the IDF (army) today, Ahmed Jaabari, the senior commander of the military wing of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, was targeted," a statement from the Shin Bet said.

"In the past hour, the IDF targeted Ahmed Jaabari, the head of Hamas's military wing, in the Gaza Strip," the military added in a statement, saying Jaabari "was a senior Hamas operative... directly responsible for executing terror attacks."

"The purpose of this operation was to severely impair the command and control chain of the Hamas leadership, as well as its terrorist infrastructure."

Israel warned it was only the start of an operation targeting militant groups in Gaza, which comes as the Jewish state prepares for general elections in January.

A wounded child is taken into the treatment room of Shifa hospital following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. Picture: Majed Hamdan/AP

"Today we sent a clear message to Hamas and other terrorist organisations," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a televised address several hours after the initial strike which took place at about 1400 GMT (0100 AEDT).

"If it becomes necessary, we are prepared to expand the operation," the Israeli leader warned after holding consultations with his security cabinet. "We will not tolerate a situation in which Israeli citizens are threatened by rocket fire."

"Israel doesn't want a war but the Hamas provocation of recent weeks ... forced us to act sharply and decisively," Barak said.

"We are at the beginning, not end, of this action," he warned, adding: "It won't be a quick fix."

The air strikes capped five days of rising tension in and around Gaza.

The killing of Jaabari sparked furious protests in Gaza City, with hundreds of members of Hamas and its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, chanting for revenge inside Shifa hospital.

Palestinian firefighters extinguish fire from the car of Ahmaed Jaabari, head of the military wing of the Hamas movement, the Ezzedin Qassam Brigades, after it was hit by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City.

It also came as a position paper from Israel's foreign ministry proposed "toppling" Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas if Palestine becomes a recognised state.

"Toppling Abu Mazen's (Abbas's) regime would be the only option in this case," the paper obtained by AFP says.

"Any other option ... would mean waving a white flag and admitting the failure of the Israeli leadership to deal with the challenge."

The position paper is a draft document that is expected to be endorsed by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who would then present it to the Israeli officials charged with formulating Israel's response to the Palestinian bid.

Mr Lieberman has already reportedly expressed his view that Mr Abbas's Palestinian Authority should be dismantled if the UN bid succeeds.

The Palestinians are scheduled to present their bid for state observer status at the general assembly on November 29, where they are expected to easily win approval, despite opposition from the United States and Israel.

The bid comes slightly more than a year after the Palestinians sought full UN membership at the security council, a request that stalled there because of opposition from the United States, a permanent member and veto-holder.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel cannot tolerate continued rocket attacks against its citizens and is "prepared to expand the operation" following an airstrike that killed the commander of the Hamas military wing. Picture: Ariel Schalit/AP

The ministry paper warns that Israel "must extract a high price from Abu Mazen," and that receiving state status at the UN "would be considered a crossing of a red line."

Israel's Channel 10 reported on November 5 that Mr Lieberman had backed the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, in comments to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

"If the Palestinians pursue their project at the UN, they are definitively destroying the chances of peace talks," the station quoted Lieberman as saying on October 24.

"If they persist with this project, I will ensure that the Palestinian Authority collapses."

A senior Israeli official said on Wednesday that Israel is also considering annulling part or all of the 1993 Oslo Accords in response to the UN bid.

The 1993 Oslo accords were intended to pave the way for a full resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority, which was to govern parts of the occupied West Bank and Gaza until a final agreement.

Israel and Washington fiercely oppose any Palestinian action at the United Nations, and US President Barack Obama called Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas earlier this week to reiterate his opposition.

But the Palestinians have confirmed they will push ahead with the plan, saying that enhanced UN status does not contradict peace efforts, and pointing out that direct talks have been on hold since late September 2010.

Meanwhile, Palestinians rallied across the West Bank, a day before the 24th anniversary of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's independence declaration.

Thousands of Palestinians were taking place in demonstrations blocking roads near the West Bank towns of Bethlehem, Jericho and Ramallah.

Chanting "Free Palestine," they carried banners supporting a Palestinian bid later this month to obtain state observer status at the United Nations.

In Atara, north of Ramallah, and at a checkpoint by the city of Bethlehem, Israeli forces fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.

An Israeli army spokesman said that "approximately 200 people - Palestinians and international activists - were throwing stones" near Jericho.

"The military force at the site is not reacting with riot dispersal means," the spokesman said, "and one soldier was lightly wounded by rocks. The soldiers are reacting with moderation."

Israel's history of killing Hamas leaders

- July 2002: An Israeli warplane drops a bomb on the home of Salah Shehadeh, the head of the Hamas military wing, killing him and 14 others, including women and children - March 2004: An Israeli missile strike kills Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the Hamas spiritual leader, near a Gaza City mosque. Yassin, paralysed in a childhood accident, was among the founders of Hamas in 1987, a few days after the outbreak of the first Palestinian uprising. - April 2004: Israel kills Gaza's Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi in a missile strike on his car. Two of Rantisi's bodyguards are also killed - January 2009: An Israeli warplane drops a bomb on the home of Nizar Rayyan, a senior Hamas figure, killing him and 18 others. The attack comes several days after Israel launches a three-week military offensive against Hamas in Gaza - January 2009: An Israeli air strike during the offensive kills Said Siam, the interior minister in Gaza's Hamas government. A missile hits the home of Siam's brother and also kills two other senior Hamas members.

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Comments on this story

Where are the UN and NATO now clearly the organisations are just in place to rubber stamp US or US backed atrocities. I fear that again the Australian government will betray thye wishes of the public and back the ongoing killing of innocent Palestenian women and children. Why are Israeli products allowed into Australia.

Comment 1 of 140

Dale Bush of Hobart Posted at 1:08 PM November 15, 2012

Good Old Israel....always the aggressor....with their bully-boy partner the US at their right hand shoulder....

Comment 2 of 140

Skye of Bris Posted at 12:41 PM November 15, 2012

There won't be any peace until one side levels the other. Just get it over with already.

Comment 3 of 140

Mittens of Melbourne Posted at 12:38 PM November 15, 2012

This tit for tat has to end one way or another. Both sides dont want to back down and continue to provoke each other so as not to look like the bad guy in all this. It'll either be a full blown war killing thousands or it'll end when they agree to work it out. I think we know how it'll play out. The US needs to back away from this one....let them sort out their own mess.

Comment 4 of 140

Doug of ACT Posted at 12:31 PM November 15, 2012

So much for the Arab Spring. This sounds increasingly like a Middle East wide putsch to install intolerant Islamist dictatorships. Palestine and Hamas are just one small part of the camaign. Pity the Jews and their beleagred State of Israel. Pity the Christians and hteir lost state of Lebanon and oppressed and expelled communities from Egypt to Iraq. Pity the oppressed new religions - like the Bahais- and the old - the Zoroastrians. And pity any Muslim who disagrees with the latest hoodlum powebrokers. And did I forget the women? The Middle East is in a mad dash to extremism, intolerance, xenophobia, ethnic cleansing and women hating. Give me democratic Israel any day over that insane mob.

Comment 5 of 140

Just-Think-About-It of Perth Posted at 12:27 PM November 15, 2012

One step closer to WWIII as countries around the world side up to get ready for attack and/or defence. It is not only about religious differences (as if they actually follow their own teachings anyway) but about land, food, water and energy.
Maybe it is nature's way of reducing the population - let humans kill each other so the Earth can recover . . .
Humans are the blight on our universe. Please don't settle on any other planet - so, maybe we did come from Mars, after destroying it.

Comment 6 of 140

Riley Posted at 12:27 PM November 15, 2012

Of course America backs Israel, they would be broke without them.
Australia should NOT be involved in this, we should be abandoning the US and forging stronger relationships in Asia... you know.... our home region.

Comment 7 of 140

The profit of Reality Posted at 12:24 PM November 15, 2012

Again, religion rears its ugly head. But in this case, what does Israel expect when they continue to invade Gaza, and deny the people there sovereignty? I wonder how many Australians would stand for such a situation if we were invaded, and denied our freedoms?

Comment 8 of 140

Dugald of Brisbane Posted at 12:24 PM November 15, 2012

Throwing stones.....think that just about says it all...pathetic!

Comment 9 of 140

Waiting for World War 3 Posted at 12:13 PM November 15, 2012

Mark my words, Middle Eastern terrorists will start World War III. They will get hold of a nuclear weapon or nuclear material and detonate it in a Western city. The response will see the Middle East wiped off the face of the planet including Israel which will be destroyed by a temporarily united Arab word, but not before its launched it nuclear missles, casualities in the hundreds of millions.

Comment 10 of 140

Mick of Sydney Posted at 12:12 PM November 15, 2012

People really need to do more research and understand the situation there before talking as these comments clearly shows you have no idea what you're talking except regurgitating what you've learnt from media that have a credibility rating of 0%.
Jews don't like Christians or anybody that step into "Israel" youtube and documentaries and a bit of research on google will open your eyes wide open on what really is going on there and who the evil players are.

Comment 11 of 140

Gordy of Sydney Posted at 12:04 PM November 15, 2012

Not our Fight so PLEASE do Not send in any of our Troops

Comment 12 of 140

Black Dynamite Posted at 12:04 PM November 15, 2012

Shaun of queensland can you tell me which race took over the land from the velociraptors? And their evolutionary process into Chris Bosh?
BD

Comment 13 of 140

Bob Del Posted at 12:02 PM November 15, 2012

Comments should be closed on Israeli/Palestinian stories - there is far too much emotion on both sides to have a rational debate.
There is far more death and destruction in other parts of the world (had a look at Syria lately?) yet there is nowhere near as much discussion or interest from world bodies, the media or your average punter.

Comment 14 of 140

Truth teller Posted at 12:02 PM November 15, 2012

Peace in the Middle East is a logical fallacy, it will never happen, the hatred is ingrained into the psyche of the people living there. The religious beliefs of most of the population don't allow for forgiveness only vengeance.

Comment 15 of 140

Mike of Sydney Posted at 11:57 AM November 15, 2012

Frank #92 - You write your statement in such a way as to make it seem like this is a large portion of the Israeli populace. I very much doubt (yet of course, cannot certainly know at this moment) that those opposed would be the ones living in or near disputed territory. Of course not all those in Israel would support these actions, that's something that comes from being a relitively free and democratic society - the exact opposite of those trying to impose their will upon Israel.

Comment 16 of 140

Brett Posted at 11:55 AM November 15, 2012

Boycott Israel

Comment 17 of 140

Eumir Dos-Santos of Australia Posted at 11:54 AM November 15, 2012

Go for it. Wipe each other out. This will never be resolved any other way. The rest of the world is sick of hearing about these issues.
Also, if you're going to do this then make sure you do it properly.

Comment 18 of 140

Wake up, Australia Posted at 11:54 AM November 15, 2012

Don't involve us ! We should have an isolationist policy.

Comment 19 of 140

Deano of Brissy Posted at 11:53 AM November 15, 2012

You can walk away from a fight as much as you like but when one keeps pestering and provoking don't get upset when they react with a big wallop.

Comment 20 of 140

Super Man of Brisbane Posted at 11:53 AM November 15, 2012

Darren of Adelaide clearly has no idea what he is talking about.

Comment 21 of 140

john of SG Posted at 11:51 AM November 15, 2012

rather than let palestine exists and create endless problems for israel, the IDF should just put out a massive offense and wipe them out once and for all. Why tolerate these terrorists who have no plan for peace and their agenda is to seek the total destruction of jewish state? such neighbours cannot be compromised, tolerated or reasoned with. The only option is total annilihation of its enemy.

Comment 22 of 140

Chris of Charleville Qld Posted at 11:48 AM November 15, 2012

Nobody is dening the right of Jewish people to exist but a homeland exclusive of everyone except Jews would seem like apartheid. We in Australia had a whites only policy and did not recognise the aboriginal people whose land we settled. Australia changed for the mutual benifit of all and we still have some injustices to correct. Israel will have to eventually change recognising it's indigenous people and forming a more multicultural state. If Israel continues with this war parth it will eventually be defeated by the demographics of population and world power. How much symphathy would Israel have in India, China or Aisa in general, not much!

Comment 23 of 140

Haroon Posted at 11:42 AM November 15, 2012

All comments in defense of Isreal when they are the real terrorists. No one is asking why Hammas or people of Palestine are fighting for?,which is to get their occupied land from Isreal. If someone invades and captures your house, would you greet and welcome the invadors or fight to re-take your home?

Comment 24 of 140

Mike of Sydney Posted at 11:40 AM November 15, 2012

SCRATCH! of Brisbane (#45) - Never watched it. Nice try linking my fair and vaild statement to an sensationalist US TV station instead of actually forming some sort of factual response against the points I raised. My opinion is guided by my own interest and research into the situation, I wont stoop as low as to suggest where you get your opinion from.

Comment 25 of 140

Harry of Toorak Posted at 11:38 AM November 15, 2012

Thank God Australia isnt next to Israel!

Comment 26 of 140

Frank Posted at 11:37 AM November 15, 2012

Mike, even Israelis are speaking out against their own countrys warmongering and cruelty against the Palastinians.

Comment 27 of 140

Get real Posted at 11:37 AM November 15, 2012

Seriously some of you think that because no one (factual evidence?)is killed by Palestinian rockets attacks that's OK and Israel shouldn't try to stop it occuring. So attacking civilian targets is OK as long as no one is killed.

Comment 28 of 140

Revolting Peasant Posted at 11:33 AM November 15, 2012

I don't care who thinks who is right and who thinks who provoked who. At the end of the day this is the same thing all wars are about. Control of land and borders and the vested interests of those who seek to gain from war. The killings go on everywhere, Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan.... And until we all evolve, until we can all learn to truly transcend this madness, it will continue. It's all wrong no matter who thinks they are right!!!!

Comment 29 of 140

Batta of Brisbane Posted at 11:32 AM November 15, 2012

Palestinians are very slow learners, if you keep poking Israel with a stick they are going to bite and bite hard. If the Palestinian put more money and effort into their peoples welfare rather than on launching rockets into Israel maybe, just maybe, their situation would improve.

Comment 30 of 140

Kevin of Canberra Posted at 11:29 AM November 15, 2012

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Hamas is a terrorist group and has to be dealt like rotten scum.

Comment 31 of 140

Darren of Adelaide Posted at 11:29 AM November 15, 2012

Lets see, the three day war. Hiding behind the events of WW2. Yes, Israel has the right to exist.... I get it, you tell us that all the time.
But you took what wasn't yours, how would we all like it if someone took something from you and waved it in your face every single day and hid behind countries like the US who will back you without question.
The UN is a puppet, why does a country have to "buy" a seat in a supposedly democratic system? Don't expect the UN to do anything here. The US will "veto" any attempt to condemn poor old Israel. Cant have Israel crying now can we?
Six day War? Who provoked then. Starts with an I
Israel should expect retaliation, but that's what they want to justify more killing in the name of "our right to exist"

Comment 32 of 140

Random internet guy Posted at 11:29 AM November 15, 2012

The Palestinians are cowards, they hide amongst the civilian population firing rockets into another nations civilian population and then run off and hide. Using your own people as human shields and then crying foul when they are killed because Israel is trying to stop the attacks is the act of an uncaring coward not someone fighting for freedom. I think Palestine wants its people killed as they know what a powerful symbol they are to cast Israel as the evil aggressor and they as the poor misunderstood repressed. Peace will never happen as the hatreds are just passed down to another generation.

Comment 33 of 140

RAL Posted at 11:28 AM November 15, 2012

The answer is simple, stop indiscrimante rockets into Israel, disavow 'there will never be a Jewish state' and that will negate Israel's need for protective expansion and retaliatory strikes.
Simple but Hamas will never allow it.

Comment 34 of 140

Christopher of Australia the Sovereign Nation Posted at 11:27 AM November 15, 2012

Here is a list of just some people who have "owned" or occupied this land: Canaanites, Philistines, Assyrians, Ptolemaists, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Mukluks, Ottomans, Israelis, Egyptians, Palestinians, Jordanians and British.
To say that the Palestinians have more right to the land than the Israelis is absurd. You're drawing an arbitrary line where it suits.
Like all other territory in all other cultures, history has decided who owns what.
According to the UN, Israel is a sovereign country over the land the rockets are landing in. They're being fired by a recognized terrorist organisation.
They have a legal right to defend themselves the way any sovereign nation would, including ours. The debate is over.

Comment 35 of 140

Matty C of Hendra Posted at 11:26 AM November 15, 2012

Israel is well within it's right to defend itself. Look at it this way: if Indonesia, the worlds most populous islamic state, made repeated attacks on Australia, would we respond? Yes, we would. Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq; all countries where there is no seperation of church and state and the result is a religous war- Sunni vs Shi'ite, etc, etc. Syria is the last middle eastern country with other religions in parliment- Why are normal people rebeling? they don't believe in any other religions. they are angry because of the existance of another religion. Madness!

Comment 36 of 140

Perspective Posted at 11:25 AM November 15, 2012

Coincidence that Israel has started this as Palestine is going to the UN to obtain observer state status on the 29th (which everyone knows they will achieve)? Why is Isreal considered a state and Palestine not? How about we pick any sizeable minority group from Europe and give them NSW and move everyone in NSW to Canberra and then everyone in Canberra has all their human rights taken from them. Would it surprise you if those in the new Canberra revolted and started fighting NSW in order to get their lives back? Would Canberra have bought it on themselves when NSW then killed half of them?

Comment 37 of 140

Michael of Adelaide Posted at 11:24 AM November 15, 2012

I sympathise with the Palestinians' plight, but launching hundreds of random rocket attacks against civilian targets will eventually get a response. The required response came. Targeted and strategic. I wonder how long it will be before both sides realise they need a proper solution instead of more war. I suspect it will take decades, if not centuries of more fighting. Very sad.

Comment 38 of 140

Anto73 Posted at 11:19 AM November 15, 2012

Well said Mike #37.
Missy (#17) - it's really hard to find any good in a religion as barbaric and violent as Islam, there are some very informative documentaries you should watch (good BBC ones too) on the religion, it's violence, treatment of women and stated purpose to be the world's dominant religion through violence, death and slavery.

Comment 39 of 140

Martin of Cairns Posted at 11:19 AM November 15, 2012

Like all terrorists its about power and never about the people.
Hammas will push and push until there is death and destruction on both sides. Unfortunately pain and suffering inside Palestine is purely at the instigation of Hammas and other terrorist groups.
Someone needs to step up in Palestine and unite the two countries.
It cant be done when one country negotiates with rockets no matter how dangerous they are.
Unfortunately the Palestinian poeple do not have the will or strength to govern themselves and make peace with their neighbours.
They will be led like sheep to the slaughter by their terrorist overlords

Comment 40 of 140

Leopard Posted at 11:18 AM November 15, 2012

Start of a larger conflict in the middle east, we all know Iran is to be attacked this December, only one of 3 countries in the world left without a central bank. First all informants in Gaza and palestine needs to be taken care off. The Palestinians are starved and cramped to death, after all, they are a problem for these bank lords because of their opposition and shear numbers. Palestinian conflict is always a pre-cursor to a larger conflict. After that, well only North Korea and Cuba don't have central banks, the time of total world financial control is close.

Comment 41 of 140

Cymek Posted at 11:16 AM November 15, 2012

I for one are sick of the sympathy we are meant to feel for Middle Eastern nations, for the most part they are backwards repressive cultures that are stagnating because they don't want to accept change. Run by a bunch of religious zealots who care only about maintaining the status quo. Until all of them grant women equal rights and allow freedom of religion and other basic human rights they deserve no respect and don't go giving cultural excuses for them as itâs not an excuse at all. The Palestinians are cowards, they attack civilianâs targets from civilian population zones using their own people as shields. Just because the rockets are mostly ineffective is no excuse either, should Israel allow acts of terrorism just because casualties are low. Middle Eastern terrorists aren't freedom fighters they only seek to maintain the same repressive regime, if they were fighting for the democratic freedom of everyone it might give them some legitimacy.

Comment 42 of 140

Chris - We wouldn't do anything different of Adelaide Posted at 11:13 AM November 15, 2012

If a confirmed terrorist organisation shot 120 rockets into Adelaide (or any Australian city) I know what I would do.

Comment 43 of 140

Shaun of Queensland Posted at 11:11 AM November 15, 2012

The Byzantines, who (nice peopleâperhaps it should go to them?) didn't conquer the Levant, but, upon the division of the Roman Empire in 395, inherited Palestine from:
The Romans, who in 63 B.C. took it over from:
The last Jewish kingdom, which during the Maccabean rebellion from 168 to 140 B.C. won control of the land from:
The Hellenistic Greeks, who under Alexander the Great in 333 B.C. conquered the Near East from:
The Persian empire, which under Cyrus the Great in 639 B.C. freed Jerusalem and Judah from:
The Babylonian empire, which under Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. took Jerusalem and Judah from:
The Jews, meaning the people of the Kingdom of Judah, who, in their earlier incarnation as the Israelites, seized the land in the 12th and 13th centuries B.C. from:
The Canaanites, who after rejecting the oppression of the then rulers of the area, the Pharonic Egyptions, actually became the Israelites. (the "exodus" story - it was on SBS about 12 months ago)
There you go Gary. If you want to actually know the truth, I have lots more.

Comment 44 of 140

Fran of Melbourne Posted at 11:11 AM November 15, 2012

Suffer the little children..........a massive failing by humanity. All the wisdom and intellect in the world as still we resort to this? Time goes by and we learn absolutely nothing. Devastatingly sad.

Comment 45 of 140

Shaun of Queensland Posted at 11:09 AM November 15, 2012

So, going back 800 years, there's no particularly clear chain of title that makes Israel's title to the land inferior to that of any of the previous owners. Who were, continuing backward:
The Mamluks, already mentioned, who in 1250 took Palestine over from:
The Ayyubi dynasty, the descendants of Saladin, the Kurdish Muslim leader who in 1187 took Jerusalem and most of Palestine from:
The European Christian Crusaders, who in 1099 conquered Palestine from:
The Seljuk Turks, who ruled Palestine in the name of:
The Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad, which in 750 took over the sovereignty of the entire Near East from:
The Umayyad Caliphate of Damascus, which in 661 inherited control of the Islamic lands from
The Arabs of Arabia, who in the first flush of Islamic expansion conquered Palestine in 638 from:
Continued in the next post if the mods allow that one:

Comment 46 of 140

Yon Posted at 11:09 AM November 15, 2012

I notice that no one who condemns Israel's actions answers the "how would you act if your country had hundreds of rockets shot at it within a week?"
Forget Molotov and rocks. These militants also have Rockets, bombs, and guns, but that is not the point.
Can someone who thinks Israel is in the wrong, explain how it is not justified to strike back when your country is constantly bombarded? (imagine having 15 seconds to run into a shelter while out shopping or at work or else face devastating injury or death - 10 times per day).
In the end of the day, Israel targets terrorists and accidentally (and no doubt tragically) hits civilians, whereas Hamas targets civilians and may accidentally hit soldiers, who are protecting rather than rebelling.
People's ignorance along with their decision to always take the "victim's" side is more of a tool to form some type of political personality, where a person is lacking knowledge, experience, or the will to read between the lines. It is sad that people throw accusations reading one biased article.
Australians actually destroyed the weak, but thats all forgotten history now isn't it?
I hope someone can answer the question mentioned earlier.

Comment 47 of 140

David of BNE Posted at 11:09 AM November 15, 2012

so let me get this straight, Israel imposed a no fly zone on Palestine, closed their ports by maritime blockade, closed any route to aid or import/export into the country then they complain that Palestine retaliates? This would be like Malaysia setting up a no fly zone around Australia and a complete maritime blockade around us for the simple reason that they believe Australia is theirs. How would we feel like? Palestine does not belong to Israel as far as I know, hundred years back there was no Israel, they bought their way into UN the same way the bought their way into the EU for sporting activity.
I don't condone killing people but one day my guess is Israel will pay for all the shifty business they been doing for over 100 years.

Comment 48 of 140

SCRATCH! of Brisbane Posted at 11:08 AM November 15, 2012

"Mike of Sydney" maybe its time to give Fox news a break.

Comment 49 of 140

Shaun of Queensland Posted at 11:08 AM November 15, 2012

Gary T (comment#36) NO You are wrong. Whatever may be the correct solution to the problems of the Middle East, let's get a few things straight:
As a strictly legal matter, the Jews didn't take Palestine from the Arabs; they took it from the British, who exercised sovereign authority in Palestine under a League of Nations mandate for thirty years prior to Israel's declaration of independence in 1948. And the British don't want it back.
If you consider the British illegitimate usurpers, fine. In that case, this territory is not Arab land but Turkish land, a province of the Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years until the British wrested it from them during the Great War in 1917. And the Turks don't want it back.
If you look back earlier in history than the Ottoman Turks, who took over Palestine over in 1517, you find it under the sovereignty of the yet another empire not indigenous to Palestine: the Mamluks, who were Turkish and Circassian slave-soldiers headquartered in Egypt. And the Mamluks don't even exist any more, so they can't want it back.
Continued next post if the mods allow it to go up

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